when u are doing a compression test, you are measuring the maximum pressure a cylinder will hold.....correct

 

Actually you are measuring the amount of pressure a cylinder will produce after several strokes. The compression tester will hold the presure inside itself. That's why there's a presure release button on it.

To test if the cylinder itself holds presure you would have to stop the stroke at top dead center exactly and watch a gauge that doesn't store the presure. It isn't very usefull or practical to do this. However, there is a 'leak-down' test that is similar in principle. This test determines where the cylinder is losing presure (valves, rings, etc) and how badly.

 

well after every bump your numbers would keep getting higher and higher until they cant get any higher which would give u the compression for that cylinder?

 

Yes, you are correct.